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Book___^S Sill- 



Issued May 27, 1914. 



United States Department of Agriculture, 

BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



THE PERIODICAL CICADA IN 1914. 

Information is desired on tlie subject of the occurrence of Brood V 
iof the periodical cicada (Tihicen septendecim L.) (fig. 1.) to supple- 
ment and complete our knowledge of the distribution of this brood. 

The known, distribution of this brood is indicated in the accom- 
panying map (fig. 2). The brood occupies, in the main, a rather 
compact territory, lying chiefly in Ohio and West Virginia, with a few 




Tig. 1. — The periodical cicada ( Tibicen septendecm,): a, Adult; 6, same, side View; c, shed pupal skin. 
Natural size. (Author's illustration.) 

scattering colonies in Pennsylvania and Virginia. Some of the south- 
ern West Virginia records are open to doubt, as are also some of the 
records in Virginia. The distribution of this brood by States and 
counties, as listed below, is based on records running back more than 
100 years and particularly on studies in 1897 in Ohio by Prof. F. M. 
Webster and in West Virginia by Dr. A. D. Hopkins, together with 
numerous records obtained by this bureau. 

DISTRIBUTION BY STATES AND COUNTIES. 

Ohio. — Ashland, Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, 
Cuyahoga, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Franklin, GaUia, Geauga, Guernsey, Harrison, 
Hocking, Holmes, Huron, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Licking, Lorain, Mahoning, 

42862°— 14 



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Medina, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Peny, Pickaway, Pike, Portage, 
Richland, Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Seneca, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas, Vinton, 
WasMngton, Wayne. 

Pennsylvania. — Fayette, Greene, Washington. 

Virginia. — Augusta, Caroline, Highland (?), Shenandoah. 

West Virginia. — Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Brooke, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, 
Fayette, Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier (?), Hancock, Hardy, Harrison, Jackson, Kanawha, 
Lewis, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Mineral, Monongalia, Nicholas, Ohio, Pleasants, 
Pocahontas, Preston, Putnam, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Summers (?), Taylor, 
Tucker, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Webster, Wetzel, Wirt, Wood. 




Fig. 2.— Map showing distribution of Brood V, 1914. 
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. 

The periodical cicada is so well known that a general account of it 
in this place is unnecessary. "V\^ien it appears in great numbers it 
naturally causes considerable alarm and arouses fears for the safety 
of shade trees and orchards. The actual damage, however, is usually 
slight, except in the case of newly planted orchards, and even here, by 
vigorous pruning back after the cicada has disappeared, much of the 
injury caused by the egg punctures (fig. 3) can be obviated. 

Ordinary repellent substances, such as kerosene emulsion or car- 
bolic-acid solutions, seem to have very little effect in preventing the 
oviposition of these insects. Some recent experience, however, indi- 
cates that trees thoroughly sprayed with Bordeaux mixture or a lime 
wash are apt to be avoided by the cicada, especially if there are other 



D. of 
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19 5 



trees or woods in the neighborhood on which they can oviposit. The 
most reliable means of protecting nurseries and young orchards is by 
collecting the insects in bags or umbrellas 
from the trees in early morning or late 
evening, when they are somewhat torpid. 
Such collections should be undertaken at 
the first appearance of the cicada and 
repeated each day. 

The recipient of this notice is urgently 
requested to report, about June 10, on the 
inclosed postal card, any occurrences of 
this insect. The cicadas may be expected 
to emerge from the middle to the end of 
May, and scattering individuals may be 
found up to the middle of June. Any 
cicadas collected later than June will 
probably belong to other species, and 
wherever the observer is in. doubt it will 
be well to send specimens for determi- 
nation. A negative record is often quite 
as valuable as one of actual occurrence. 
The card should be filled out with the 
name of the locality, including the State, 
county, and town, the name of the 
observer, and the date. Space is left at 
the bottom of the card for a note on any 
features of interest, and the information 
given should include the date of first 
appearance or emergence of the cicada, 
the date of its general disappearance, and 
the numbers — ^in other words, whether 
very numerous or scattering, or whether 
only a few individuals occur. No postage 
is necessary on this card. 

C. L. Maelatt, 
Entomologist and Acting Chief in Absence of Chief 
Approved: 

L. O. HOV/ARD, 

Entomologist and Chief of Bureau. 
Washington, D. C, May 12, 1914. 




Fig. 3. — ^Egg punctures of the periodical 
cicada: a, Twig showing recent punc- 
tures, from front and side, and illus- 
trating manner of breaking; &, twig 
showing older pxmetures, with retrac- 
tion of bark and more fuUy displaying 
the arrangement of fibers. Natural 
size. (After Riley.) 



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WASHINGTON : 60VBENMBNT PRINTING OFFICE : 1914 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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